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New health concerns have been raised over the use of nicotine-releasing devices such as gums, patches, inhalers and nasal sprays as aids to stopping smoking.

An American study on mice has shown nicotine without tobacco can enhance the growth of cancers and fatty blockages in blood vessels.

The report comes just weeks after news that the popular anti-smoking drug, Zyban, has been associated with a record number of side effects, and possibly some deaths, among Australian users.

The nicotine study in the latest issue of the journal Nature Medicine suggests the chemical's effects on health are brought about by increased growth of tiny blood vessels.

But Sydney University's professor of public health, Dr Simon Chapman, says smokers wanting to quit should not be put off by the new findings.

The level of nicotine in products like patches and gums is at least eight times lower than most smokers would receive from their cigarette habit and the products are not generally needed for more than a few weeks or months.

"If nicotine is dangerous, the best way to minimise your exposure to it is to stop smoking," he told ABC Science Online.

But are you better off attempting to kick the habit using Zyban, products like patches, or simply going cold turkey?

Research suggests both nicotine-replacement products and Zyban will at least double your chances of success compared to going it alone. But both methods involve expense and possible side effects.

Claims that Zyban is the more powerful of the two quitting tools may be premature as they are based on only a very small number of studies, Dr Chapman says.

Nonetheless, 80 per cent of those who quit do so with no help at all.

"People should be aware that if they fail the first few times, it's completely normal. You just have to keep trying."